Newcastle are in turmoil.
The pressure gauge has been turned up three notches on the Novocastrians after an embarrassing first half saw them trail 22-0 to Gold Coast with their top eight hopes slipping by the week.
After three consecutive wooden spoon campaigns, patient and loyal Newcastle fans have celebrated a roster capable of finals football, but the Knights have now slumped to a 1-5 record with five straight losses.
Second half tries to Hymel Hunt, Mitch Barnett and Kalyn Ponga added little consolation as their handling errors from the opening period gave the Titans an unassailable 28-point lead.
The Titans stopped the bleeding with two late tries to Tryone Roberts and Michael Gordon, demolishing their opposition 38-14.
On the ensuing play after three separate errors, Gold Coast put a trio of tries on the board following blunders from Connor Watson, Daniel Saifiti and Shaun Kenny-Dowall
Phillip Sami ignites the jet boots and burns the Newcastle defence 🔥#NRLTitansKnights#TelstraPremiership pic.twitter.com/fIeShBZ6Hs
— NRL (@NRL) April 21, 2019
TYRONE ROBERTS 💪#NRLTitansKnights 14-0#TelstraPremiership pic.twitter.com/B9SIwyUJPZ
— NRL (@NRL) April 21, 2019
THE DON SCORES 🤟#NRLTitansKnights#TelstraPremiership pic.twitter.com/3fDf5eeiTp
— NRL (@NRL) April 21, 2019
Watson, who was denied a try for a double movement, had a particularly rough day, bombing a number of scoring chances while letting Brian Kelly stroll through with ease.
Like a hot knife through butter 🙌#NRLTitansKnights#TelstraPremiership pic.twitter.com/z73lPVAJfU
— NRL (@NRL) April 21, 2019
Sharks premiership winner Michael Ennis picked their issues apart in a scathing review of their season.
‘’If they were under pressure coming here today, you can only imagine what it is going to be like under the burrow at CBUS Super Stadium in the Knights' dressing room,'' he said in commentary.
‘’This is alarming. This is really alarming. What has happened in the last fortnight to the Newcastle Knights?
‘’There is real concern with the style of football and the way they are going about their football at the moment.
‘’They are in a tough spot. Nathan Brown has been building a roster for a number of years now and this one is worthy of far greater than what these players have produced in the opening 40 minutes.
‘’He came into this game under pressure, he knows that Nathan, his side’s under pressure and they haven’t delivered.
‘’They were lethargic from the get-go and the Titans have punished them.’’
Knights chief executive Phil Gardner told The Newcastle Herald coach Nathan Brown was under no pressure to keep his job, however recent results may force him to reconsider his opinion.
"There is absolutely no discussion being had around Nathan's future. None. There is no heat in it at all because he has the full support of everyone here. It is that simple,'' Gardner said.
Newcastle return home against Parammatta next week - their fifth game in seven rounds at McDonald Jones Stadium.
A loss there could potentially draw a line through their 2019 season.
